Contact connection

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for carrying an electrical signal to a moving trolley as the trolley moves past a fixed control station, the electrical contact at the control station being biased to move transversally of the trolley track, and a pair of opposed contacts on the trolley which are biased together for engaging each side of the fixed contact as the trolley moves by the station, the leading portion of the moving contacts being shaped to funnel the fixed contact between them.

United States Patent 1 Stroppel et al.

[ CONTACT CONNECTION [75] Inventors: Herbert S tro pp el, Baseli Z eljko Radovic, Sissach, both of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Sybron Corporation, Rochester,

[22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 186,643

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 31, 1970 Germany ..P 20 64 688.2

[52] U.S. Cl ..191/48, 191/57 [51] Int. Cl. ..B60l 5/08 [58] Field of Search ..198/38; 104/88;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,406,846 10/1968 OConnor ..214/16.4 A

[ 1 May 29, 1973 523,306 7/1894 Doty ..l9l/47 3,634,831 1/1972 Riggs ..104/88 3,168,053 2/1965 Miroux ..104/88 644,646 3/1900 Thomas 191/32 FOREIGN PATENTS OR'APPLICATIONS 1,465,072 l/1969 Germany ..19l/32 Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Att0rney-Theodore B. Roessel [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a device for carrying an electrical signal to a moving trolley as the trolley moves past a fixed control station, the electrical contact at the control station being biased to move transversally of the trolley track, and a pair of opposed contacts on the trolley which are biased together for engaging each side of the fixed contact as the trolley moves by the station, the leading portion of the moving contacts being shaped to funnel the fixed contact between them.

. 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented May 29, 1973 FIG. 1

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. HERBERT STROPPEL ZELJKO RADOVIC ATTORNEY CONTACT CONNECTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a contact connection for carrying a signal to the propelling mechanism of a rail guided vehicle such as an overhead trolley or monorail as the vehicle moves past a control station. More particularly, the present invention pertains to such a device wherein a contact on the moving vehicle is assured good electrical connection to a station contact element located adjacent the track.

In order for electrically driven rail guided vehicles such as trolleys, monorails and the like to be electronically regulated, contact connections are required for transmitting an electrical signal to the propelling vehicle at certain points along the track. Such a contact may be used to transmit information to the propelling vehicle as, for example, speedcontrol, or may be used to transmit information from the propelling vehicle to control a track switch which the vehicle is approaching.

The difficulty is that in such contact connections the transfer of information may not be accomplished for several reasons. For example, the vehicle and station contacts may not come into registry, due to a misalignment of the contacts, or one contact may slide across the other with insufficient force to overcome the electrical resistance between them.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION To insure a good electrical connection between the vehicle and the station contacts, the present invention has the station contact elements mountedfor movement in a direction transverse to the path of travel of the trolley or monorail vehicle and has the contacts on the vehicle arranged in opposed pairs. The vehicle contacts are biased in a direction to grip each side of the station contact as it passes between them. The leading edge of the vehicle contacts is provided with a guide member to channel the station contact between the opposed pair of vehicle contacts wherein engagement of the guide member against the station contacts causes the station contacts to move transversally to align the station and vehicle contacts.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a contact connection for overhead trolleys, monorail vehicles and the like, which insures a proper registry of the vehicle and station contacts and which insures that the contacts are brought together with sufficient force to effect a good electrical contact for the transfer of information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a contact of the type described wherein the vehicle contact bears against two surfaces of the station contact.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a contact of the type described wherein the station contact is movable in a direction transverse to the direction of vehicle movement to permit self-alignment between the station contact and the vehicle contact.

These and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings depicting the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the contact according to the present invention with only a portion of the vehicle shown for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows vehicle contacts I mounted on an insulator block 3 which is in turn connected to the moving vehicle, a portion of which is shown schematically at 8. It should be understood that the vehicle may be a trolley or monorail or any other type of rail guided vehicle, and that a plurality of contacts is required to transmit data to or from the vehicle.

The station contacts include a plurality of spaced blade members 4 which are mounted on an insulated holder 5. Holder 5 is slidably supported on a guide ways 6 located transverse of the vehicle path of travel as defined by a track, not shown. Springs 7 wound about guide 6 and on either side of the insulated holder keep the holder in a central position on the guide ways.

The electrical connections to the vehicle and station contacts are not shown.

Referring to FIG. 2, vehicle contacts 1, which are formed from leaf springs, are arranged in opposed pairs, so that one of the station contact elements 4 passes between each opposed pair of vehicle contacts. The vehicle contacts 1, as shown in FIG. 2, are attached at one end to a pivot pin 2, which is in turn connected to insulator block 3. The other end of each contact is carried in a groove 9, formed in a guide member 10. A plurality of guide members 10 are carried on the leading edges of insulator block 3 in pairs and are I shaped to funnel the station contact elements 4 down between an opposed pair of vehicle contacts.

In operation, if the vehicle and station contact elements 1 and 4 respectively are not aligned properly, as the vehicle moves past the station, the station contact will at least be captured between a pair of guide members 10. As the vehicle continues to move past the station, guide members 10 act to funnel the station con.- tact down between an opposed pair of vehicle contacts 1. Since the vehicle contacts are springs, there may be some give at this point, in order to accomodate passage of the station elements. However, if the misalignment is sufficiently large the engagement of guide members 10 or vehicle contacts 1 against one side or the other of station contacts 4 will initially force the holder 5 to shift against springs 6 to one side or the other on guide ways 6 until the station contacts can be admitted between an opposed pair of moving contacts.

Thus it will be appreciated that the present invention accomplishes its intended objects in providing contact means which can quickly and easily adjust to any misalignment between the stationary and moving contact elements and the use of opposed contact springs on the vehicle to grip each side of the station contact insures a good electrical connection between the vehicle and station contacts.

Having thus described the invention in detail, what is claimed as new is:

l. Contact means for carrying an electrical signal to or from an overhead trolley, monorail or like rail guided vehicle wherein at least one contact is carried by the vehicle and at least one station contact is located adjacent the track, characterized by:

a. guide ways transverse of said track; b. an insulated holder slidably carried by said guide ways; 7 c. means to bias said holder to an intermediate position on said guide ways; d. a plurality of spaced, parallel, station contact elements carried by said insulated holder and extending normally therefrom into the path of travel of said vehicle contact, each station contact element having a finite length substantially'shorter than the length of said track;

I e. said vehicle contact including a plurality of spring elements arranged on said vehicle in opposed pairs said funnel-shaped guide members. 

1. Contact means for carrying an electrical signal to or from an overhead trolley, monorail or like rail guided vehicle wherein at least one contact is carried by the vehicle and at least one station contact is located adjacent the track, characterized by: a. guide ways transverse of said track; b. an insulated holder slidably carried by said guide ways; c. means to bias said holder to an intermediate position on said guide ways; d. a plurality of spaced, parallel, station contact elements carried bY said insulated holder and extending normally therefrom into the path of travel of said vehicle contact, each station contact element having a finite length substantially shorter than the length of said track; e. said vehicle contact including a plurality of spring elements arranged on said vehicle in opposed pairs to receive and grip therebetween, one of said station contact elements as said vehicle moves past said station contact; and f. funnel-shaped guide members on said vehicle and leading said vehicle contact to capture and funnel each of said station contact elements between an opposed pair of said spring elements as said vehicle moves past said station contact.
 2. Contact means as set forth in claim 1, characterized by said vehicle contact spring elements being leaf springs having one end attached to a pivot pin on said vehicle and another end lodged in a groove formed in said funnel-shaped guide members. 